After Transmigrating as a Man-Eater Omega, I Got the Protagonist Shou - Chapter 4

Qi Yan pushed open the door to his home to find Qi Haisheng slumped on the sofa, guzzling alcohol. Drowning in a drunken stupor, the man’s turbid eyes immediately locked onto the umbrella in Qi Yan’s hand.

“Where did that come from?” he asked in a thick, coarse voice, the stench of alcohol billowing out with every breath.

Qi Yan didn’t answer. He walked toward his room without looking back. Behind him came the shattering sound of a wine bottle smashing against the wall.

“I’m asking you a question! Are you deaf?” Qi Haisheng staggered to his feet, his words vile and crude. “Which rich family did you go hook up with this time? You’re just like your mother!”

Qi Yan’s fingers tightened.

Without hesitation, Qi Haisheng snatched an ashtray and hurled it at Qi Yan’s back. Taking advantage of the moment Qi Yan leaned forward, he lunged and grabbed the umbrella, his calloused fingers mauling the printed pattern on the canopy.

“I saw this at the mall. A canopy like this costs at least 300 yuan. Which classmate is so generous?” He began to sneer. “Could it be they’ve taken a liking to that face of yours? If you’ve got the skill, get more money out of them.”

The fabric let out a strained sound as it was torn. Qi Yan gripped Qi Haisheng’s wrist, a terrifying chill in his low voice: “Give it back.”

“You’re turning against me!” Qi Haisheng swung a wine bottle. “I raised you this big only to end up with an ungrateful wolf!”

Qi Yan sidestepped the blow, but a glass shard grazed his hand, leaving a bloody streak. The umbrella fell to the floor, where half a footprint was stamped onto it. Staring at that filthy mark, he suddenly remembered Qiao Xingyin’s bright eyes when he handed him the umbrella.

Qi Yan’s face turned grim, his voice icy: “Pick it up.”

Qi Haisheng was displeased by Qi Yan’s commanding tone: “What did you say?”

“I said,” Qi Yan repeated, “pick it up.”

Qi Haisheng subconsciously took half a step back, then, feeling humiliated and angry, he grabbed a broom: “You dare talk to me like that? Get out! Don’t you dare come back!”

Qi Yan turned and walked into the rain, leaving Qi Haisheng’s hysterical curses behind him. One of the umbrella ribs was bent; he carefully straightened it. The streetlights deep in the alley were broken, and the faint cries of stray cats echoed in the darkness. Standing in the rain with a solemn gaze, he finally decided to spend the night at the convenience store.

Aside from his studies, Qi Yan worked multiple part-time jobs. He was at the convenience store every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and spent the rest of his time at a cafe. He had nowhere else to go, and he would never be so extravagant as to spend money on a hotel.

When Qi Yan pushed open the door, the convenience store owner, Wang Jianfu, looked up from behind the counter, a smile squeezing onto his greasy face. “Oh, Xiao Qi, coming in this late?”

Qi Yan said nothing. He walked straight to the staff lockers, the blood on his right hand and cheek not yet dry.

“Just in time. Xiao Zhang on the night shift called in sick.” Wang Jianfu jingled his keys. “Take over for him. Pay is by the hour.”

Qi Yan paused.

Wang Jianfu lowered his voice: “That case of drinks you broke yesterday? It’s a bit of a stretch to deduct that from your wages.”

Qi Yan turned around, his voice cold as he reminded him: “Your nephew knocked that case over.”

“Young people need to learn to take responsibility.” Wang Jianfu patted his shoulder. “Tell you what, work overtime tonight and we’ll call it even.”

Qi Yan swallowed the metallic taste of blood in his throat and reached for his staff ID.

“That’s the spirit.” Wang Jianfu slapped the shift schedule onto the table. “Remember to tidy up the shelves.”

Once Wang Jianfu left, the store fell silent. Qi Yan took a dry towel and wiped the stains off the umbrella canopy. Afterward, he took out the waterproof bag Qiao Xingyin had given him to treat his wounds. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a section of cold, white, and thin arm. Qiao Xingyin had provided a generous amount of ointment, enough to treat both old and new injuries.

The convenience store late at night was so quiet that one could hear the humming of the freezers. Qiao Xingyin pushed open the glass door, and the wind chime let out a crisp ring.

The electronic lock at his home had flashed a “power off” warning. To be safe, he needed to replace the batteries. He came to the store near his residential complex to buy them, only to unexpectedly see Qi Yan standing alone on a ladder, stocking shelves. His tall, slender figure was exceptionally eye-catching.

“Qi Yan?”

He knew from the original plot that Qi Yan worked many part-time jobs, but he hadn’t expected to run into him at a store so close to home. “Need some help?” Qiao Xingyin asked, looking up.

Qi Yan looked down and was slightly startled. The box of cans in his hand tilted inadvertently. “No.”

The words had just left his mouth when the cans on the top layer rolled off. Qiao Xingyin lunged to catch them but was carried back by the momentum. His back hit the drink cooler with a dull thud.

Qi Yan’s brow furrowed instantly. He climbed down the ladder and walked over to him. “Where are you hurt?”

Qiao Xingyin’s expression remained normal. He shook his head and handed the cans back. “I’m fine. I’m quite sturdy.”

Qi Yan’s frown deepened. The boy clearly looked fragile and easily broken. His skin was so white it was almost translucent, looking as if a light touch would leave a mark.

Qiao Xingyin glanced at the ladder piled with cardboard boxes. “You have to restock this late?”

Qi Yan took the cans. “The person on the morning shift called in sick.”

Even if they called in sick, this task shouldn’t fall on him, Qiao Xingyin thought. It was likely because Qi Yan was young and had no one to back him up; wherever he went for part-time work, he was oppressed.

But Qi Yan needed money. Qi Haisheng never gave him a living allowance.

Qiao Xingyin noticed a band-aid on the webbing of Qi Yan’s right hand. He felt relieved that Qi Yan was finally tending to his wounds, but at the same time, his heart ached knowing Qi Yan was covered in injuries. He rolled up his sleeves without a word. “I’ll help you.”

“No need…”

Before Qi Yan could finish his refusal, Qiao Xingyin had already climbed the ladder. As he stood on his tiptoes, his shirt hem slipped out of his waistband, revealing a sliver of fine, white waist. He reached for the highest shelf, his shoulder blades rising and falling under the thin fabric like a pair of butterflies about to take flight.

Qiao Xingyin’s movements were nimble. In no time, he had neatly arranged the goods on the top layer. Qi Yan watched him in silence, his eyes gradually filling with an inky darkness. To a person walking alone in the dark, any glimmer of light is precious.

But he knew he couldn’t let himself crave it. He didn’t know how long this beam of light would be willing to stay by his side. Or perhaps, from the very beginning, it was just a tempting trap that could turn into a scorching flame at any moment.

Qiao Xingyin turned back and asked if the placement was correct: “Qi Yan, is it like this?”

Qi Yan looked away, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His jaw was clenched tight. “Qiao Xingyin, are we that close?”

The air froze for a moment. Qiao Xingyin, however, curved his eyes into a smile, his expression candid. “If we aren’t close, we can find a way to become close.”

Qi Yan: “…”

“Are you going to ask what the point of becoming close is?” Qiao Xingyin’s voice was clear and gentle. “To me, it means a lot. From the first moment I saw you, I wanted to be your friend.”

Friend? A word that many people learn and understand in kindergarten had never appeared in Qi Yan’s dictionary. He was clearly stunned by the word. His lips moved, but no sound came out.

Qiao Xingyin guessed what he was thinking. “Are you going to say you don’t need friends? Actually, having a friend is quite nice. At least you can try to experience it first.” He continued, “Qi Yan, can you not be in such a hurry to reject me?”

Qi Yan did not answer. To Qiao Xingyin, no answer was the best answer. In a good mood, he turned back to continue organizing.

The atmosphere fell into a brief silence until Qi Yan spoke up: “Watch out for that glass bottle.”

Qiao Xingyin adjusted his posture in response, the lines of his hips tightening against his jeans as he moved. Qi Yan took only one glance before hastily looking away. They cooperated with an unexpected unspoken understanding, one passing goods on the ladder and the other organizing below.

By the time the last box was finished, the store clock pointed to midnight. North City First High had morning readings, requiring students to be at school by 7:30 AM. Going home now meant he definitely wouldn’t get eight hours of sleep.

Qiao Xingyin was very persistent about getting eight hours of sleep. “Do you often stay up late?”

Qi Yan did not deny it. Qiao Xingyin knew that was a “yes.” “Then what about class tomorrow?”

Qi Yan said calmly, “I’m used to it.”

“This won’t do. You’ll collapse from exhaustion.” Qiao Xingyin jumped off the ladder and said seriously, “I’ll buy a few things. Once I check out, go back and rest early.”

Qiao Xingyin then selected some delicate snacks from the shelves: biscuits, hazelnut chocolates, and fresh milk. He didn’t consider the price at all while picking. After paying, he pushed the heap of snacks toward Qi Yan. “There. These are for you. Consider it a midnight snack.”

He was about to slip away before Qi Yan could refuse when he noticed an orange cat curled under the eaves, sheltering from the rain. Its fur was matted and wet, making it look exceptionally thin and small. Qiao Xingyin walked out and crouched down. The stray cat let out a pathetic moan, a primitive plea for help.

Qi Yan watched the scene through the glass door. The boy’s thin, solitary silhouette crouched in the rain, using his jacket to shield the cat while his fingertips gently combed through its tangled fur.

“Bring it in,” Qi Yan said, pushing the door open.

Qiao Xingyin looked up, water dripping from the tips of his dark hair, making his face look even cleaner and whiter. “Its leg is hurt.”

Only then did Qi Yan notice a wound on the cat’s hind leg. He turned back, fetching a clean towel and a medical kit from the store.

“Help me hold it down.” Qi Yan knelt beside Qiao Xingyin, skillfully disinfecting the cat’s wound. His fingertips were steady, but he pointedly avoided any contact with Qiao Xingyin.

The cat wailed in pain. In the world of a stray, human actions don’t always represent kindness. At this moment, it didn’t know if Qi Yan was helping or hurting it.

Qiao Xingyin comforted it softly: “Good boy, it’ll be over soon.” His voice was incredibly soothing. The kitten’s agitated emotions actually began to calm down.

Qiao Xingyin looked up slightly and smiled at Qi Yan. “I didn’t expect you to be so good at taking care of animals. I’ve ended up delaying your sleep again.”

When Qiao Xingyin was silent, he had a submissive and beautiful look. When he smiled, it was impossible to look away. He was like light clouds obscuring the moon or flowing wind returning snow. No amount of words was enough to describe him.

Wen Ke once described him like this: “Before I met you, I thought saying ‘your smile lights up the world’ was just some sappy, romantic cliché. It felt so fake. After meeting you, I realized it’s actually true. Your smile is just too beautiful, Qiao Xingyin.” And Wen Ke only saw him as a friend, without a hint of romantic interest.

Qi Yan dazed for a moment, his cold voice turning a bit husky. “I worked at a stray animal shelter before.”

A smile bloomed on Qiao Xingyin’s face again. “Then I’ll come to your store often. Your boss shouldn’t mind if we put a food bowl for stray cats by the door, right?”

Did that mean they would meet often in the future? Qi Yan lowered his eyes, his gaze landing on Qiao Xingyin with unreadable emotions. He suddenly remembered Qiao Xingyin helping him in the alley, handing him the umbrella, organizing the shelves, and now this image of him caring for a stray cat in the rain.

Was Qiao Xingyin helping him out of pity, too? Just like saving this homeless kitten on a rainy night?

After settling the stray cat, Qi Yan picked up his black umbrella. “I’ll walk you back.”

Qiao Xingyin didn’t know Qi Yan planned to stay at the store overnight, so he declined the offer. “It’s already very late. If you walk me back and then go home, it’ll be even later. I can go back by myself.”

Qi Yan was insistent. “Precisely because it’s late, I must walk you back.”

It was late, and he couldn’t let an Omega go home alone. Even though he was a Beta and couldn’t feel the allure of pheromones, he knew that a boy as beautiful as this was in danger out late at night. Moreover, he was going home this late because of him. He had to at least ensure his safety.

The residential complex where Qiao Xingyin lived was right across from the convenience store. It was a luxury area in North City where many celebrities and wealthy businessmen lived. The marble walkways shimmered with an expensive luster in the rain. The fountain sculpture in the center was illuminated by spotlights, water droplets falling like diamonds.

Even though Qi Yan had guessed where he lived from their brief conversations, actually stepping into this complex and feeling the majestic aura of the luxury buildings hit him, a secret sense of inferiority quietly tightened around him. He and Qiao Xingyin—one was in the clouds, and one was in the mud. What right did he have to hope for a friendship?

Qi Yan soon reached the entrance of the building. Qiao Xingyin waved at him. “Thanks for walking me back. See you tomorrow.”

After tonight, their relationship should have taken a step further, right? Qiao Xingyin thought the progress was pleasing, but then he heard Qi Yan speak.

“Qiao Xingyin, don’t be so good to me.” There was a hidden bitterness in Qi Yan’s cold voice. “I can’t pay you back.”

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